Агата Кристи – Ten Little Niggers / Десять негритят (страница 10)

“But feel I ought to say – no truth in what he said about – er – young Arthur Richmond. He was one of my officers. I sent him on a reconnaissance. He was killed. Natural course of events in war time. Wish to say I resent very much – slur on my wife. Best woman in the world. Absolutely – Caesar’s wife!”[23]

General Macarthur sat down. His shaking hand pulled at his moustache. That explanation had cost him a good deal.

Lombard spoke, too. His eyes were merry. He grinned and said:

“About those natives. Story’s quite true! I left ’em! Matter of self-preservation. We were lost in the bush. I and a couple of other fellows took what food there was and left.”

General Macarthur said sternly:

“You left your men to starve?”

Lombard said:

“Not quite the act of a real gentleman, I’m afraid. But self-preservation’s a man’s first duty. And natives don’t mind dying, you know. They don’t feel about it as Europeans do.”

Vera looked into his merry eyes with her horrified ones.

“You left them – to die?”

Lombard answered:

“I left them to die.”

Anthony Marston said in a puzzled voice:

“I’ve just been thinking – John and Lucy Combes. Must have been a couple of kids I ran over near Cambridge. Beastly bad luck.”

Mr. Justice Wargrave said acidly:

“For them, or for you?”

Anthony said:

“Well, I was thinking – for me – but of course, you’re right, sir, it was damned bad luck on them. Of course it was just an accident. They rushed out of some cottage or other. My licence was endorsed for a year. Beastly nuisance.”

Dr. Armstrong said angrily:

“This speeding’s all wrong – all wrong! Young men like you are a danger to the community.”

Anthony shrugged his shoulders.

“Speed’s come to stay. English roads are hopeless, of course. Can’t drive with a decent speed on them.”

He picked up his glass, went over to the side table and helped himself to another whiskey and soda. He said over his shoulder:

“Well, anyway, it wasn’t my fault. Just an accident!”

III

The manservant, Rogers, looking very nervous, asked for permission to speak.

Lombard said:

“Go ahead, Rogers.”

Rogers cleared his throat and passed his tongue over his dry lips.

“Mrs. Rogers and I, and Miss Brady were mentioned, sir. There isn’t a word of truth in it, sir. From the time we came to her, Miss Brady was in poor health, sir. There was a storm, sir, that night when she got worse. The telephone was out of order. We couldn’t get the doctor to her. I went for him, sir, on foot. But he got there too late. We’d done everything possible for her, sir. We were devoted to her.”

Lombard looked thoughtfully at the man’s twitching face, the fright in his eyes. He remembered the crash of the falling coffee tray. He thought, but did not say, “Oh, yea?”

But Blore said:

“Came into a little something[24] at her death, though? Eh?”

Rogers said stiffly:

“Miss Brady left us a legacy in recognition of our faithful services. And why not, I’d like to know?”

Lombard turned to Blore.

“What about yourself, Mr. Blore? Your name was included in the list.”

Blore went dark red.

“Landor, you mean? That was the bank robbery.”

Mr. Justice Wargrave said:

“I remember the case. Landor was convicted on your evidence. He got life sentence and died in Dartmoor a year later. He was not a very healthy man.”

Blore said:

“He was a criminal. He knocked out the night watchman. The case was quite clear against him.”

Wargrave said slowly:

“You were praised, I think, on your efficient work on the case.”

Blore said darkly:

“I got my promotion. But I was only doing my duty.”

Lombard laughed suddenly and said:

“How duty-loving and law-abiding, it seems, we all are! Except myself. Now doctor, what was your little professional mistake? Illegal operation?”

Dr. Armstrong, very much master of himself, shook his head good-humouredly. He said calmly that he didn’t remember having a patient of that name, or being connected with a death in any way.

“Of course, it’s a long time ago. It might possibly be one of my operation cases in hospital. They come too late, so many of these people. Then, when the patient dies, they always suppose it’s the surgeon’s fault.”

He sighed and shook his head again.

To himself, he thought:

“Drunk – I was drunk… And I operated with shaking hands! I killed her, poor woman – simple job if I’d been sober. Luckily, there’s loyalty in our profession. The Sister knew, of course – but she held her tongue, God, it gave me a shock! I pulled myself together. But who could have known about it – after all these years?”

IV

In silence, they all were looking at Emily Brent. She did not understand at once that they were expecting she would tell her story. Then her eyebrows rose on her narrow forehead. She said:

“I have nothing to say.”

The judge said:

“You reserve your defence?”[25]

Miss Brent said coldly:

“There is no question of defence. My actions have been always dictated by my conscience. I have nothing with which to reproach myself.”

There was an unsatisfied feeling in the air. But public opinion was not important for Emily Brent. She remained silent.

Then the judge asked the butler who else was there on the island besides eight guests and Rogers and his wife. Rogers said there was nobody else, and he was absolutely sure of that.

Wargrave continued:

“I have no idea why our unknown host has assembled us here. But in my opinion this person, whoever he may be, is not sane in the usual sense of the word.